Organic waste powers Laholm

Laholm (Sweden) has a biogas plant that turns animal manure and different kinds of organic waste into bio-fertilizer and biogas.

As a result, biogas is replacing around 25 percent of the city’s natural gas consumption, and is reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 3,700 tons per year.

The biogas feeds into the district heating network, heating industries and houses.  A portion of the biogas is also sent to filling stations, to provide fuel for a growing number of light duty vehicles and trucks.

Manure in Laholm was creating environmental problems prior to the establishment of the plant in 1992.  Nitrogen was leaking into the bay, polluting it for drinking and recreational purposes, and killing off marine species.  Through the plant there is now adequate storage space for the manure, and the manure then gets turned into energy and usable fertilizer.

Fossil-fuel based power are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Green power from renewable energy sources emit no or low greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. Green power can include electricity generated exclusively from renewable resources including wind, hydro-electric or solar power – or electricity produced from a combination of fossil and renewable resources. For more information on the generation and use of green power at the local level, please visit www.iclei.org/ccp.

Laholm is one of 166 local governments in Europe that are currently Members of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.  For more information on ICLEI and its activities in Europe, please visit www.iclei.org/europe.

Source:  “Injection of Biogas into the Natural Gas Grid in Laholm, Sweden”, IEA Bioenergy Task 37